Smallest Babies Low birth weight

Small babies - Low Birth Weight (LBW) or (SGA)

At full term, the average baby will be about 20 inches (51 cm) long and will weigh approximately 6 to 9 pounds (2700 to 4000 grams).

Small for gestational age (SGA) babies are those whose birth weight lies below the 10th percentile for that gestational age. Low birth weight (LBW), is sometimes used to define a baby that weighs less than 5 lb 8 oz (2500 g) regardless of gestational age. One third of babies born with a low birth weight are also small for gestational age.

Other definitions include Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) which is less than 3 lb 5 oz (1500 g), and Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) which is less than 2 lb 3 oz (1000 g).

About 10 percent of fetuses are low birth weight. A health care provider may suspect fetal growth restriction if the mother's uterus measurement (fundal height) is lower than expected. This can be confirmed with a series of ultrasounds that will monitor how quickly the fetus is growing.

The main causes for Low Birth Weight:The two main causes of LBW are early delivery, also known as preterm birth, and poor fetal growth. About 70% of all LBW babies are born preterm - before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. The remaining 30% of low birth weight babies are born at full term, but did not grow properly in the womb.More Information on...

Some of the smallest babies in the world

Rumaisa 8.6 ounces (244g) 19 September 2004 - Chicago

Rumaisa Rahman weighed 8.6 ounces (244g) or less than a can of soft drink, and was just 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. She has a twin, Hiba, who weighed 1 pound 4 ounces (563g) at birth. The babies were conceived naturally and the twins were delivered by Caesarean section at 25 weeks and six days on September 19 2004 at Loyola University Medical Center.

Their mother, Mahajabeen Shaik, 23, developed severe pre-eclampsia, a disorder characterised by high blood pressure and other problems, during pregnancy. She and her husband, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, 32, are originally from Hyderabad, India. Rumaisa means "white as milk" in India, while Hiba means "gift from God".

Madeline 9.9 ounces (280 g) 27 June 1989 - Florida

Madeline Mann weighed just 9.9 ounces (280 g) and had a length of 25 cm when she was born in 1989, making her the smallest baby in the world at the time. Her parents conceived her by artificial insemination. Madeline started out as one of triplets. The two others died at 12 weeks' gestation.

Her 36-year-old mother developed pre-eclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition that raised her blood pressure and squeezed the blood flow to the developing fetus. Doctors decided to perform a Caesarean section at 27 weeks gestation, 13 weeks before her due date.

Amillia 10 ounces (283 grams) - Florida - October 24th, 2006

Amillia Taylor is often reported as the most-premature baby. She was born on 24 October 2006 in Miami, Florida, at 21 weeks and 6 days. This report has created some confusion as her age was measured from a date of conception (through IVF) rather than the date of her mother's last menstrual period making her appear 2 weeks younger than if her age was calculated by the more common gestation method.

Amillia Sonja Taylor was just 9.5 inches (24.13 centimeters) long and weighed less than 10 ounces (283 grams) when she was born Oct. 24. She was delivered after just under 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Marian Chapman - UK, Born 10 ounces (283g) at 34 weeks

For many years, The Guinness Book of World Records, The Human Body Section, Reproductivity, Babies read:

"Smallest. The lowest birth weight on record for a surviving infant is 10 oz. in the case of Marion Chapman, born in South Shields, England, on June 5th, 1938."

[In 1989 that spot was taken over by Madeline Mann, Florida USA, born 9.9 ounces (280 g).]

Her mother was unaware of being pregnant and Marian was born into a chamber pot. Birth weight recorded as 10 oz (283g), length 12.25 inches (31 cm); born unattended; nursed by Dr. D. A. Shearer, who fed her hourly for the first 30 hours with brandy, glucose, and water through a fountain-pen filler and Dr Shearer said he could have put her in his breast pocket.

Kimberley - 10.6 ounces (300g) March 2007 Germany

Kimberly Mueller, is the smallest baby ever born and the youngest survivor in Germany after she was born 15 weeks prematurely. Her chances of living were rated at worse than 1,000-1.

Tiny Kimberley Mueller weighed just over 10 ounces when she was born on 12.Mar.2007. Her chances of living were rated at worse than 1,000-1 when she was born 15 weeks prematurely. But Kimberley, who was just 10.2 inches (26cm) long, spent months on a life support system as doctors in Hanover, Germany fought to save her. The tiny mite was kept in an incubator for warmth and drip-fed, while a respirator help her breathe.